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Video: Chili arrest

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Wendy’s restaurants are hoping business will bounce back now that a woman who claimed she found a finger in her bowl of chili has been arrested and investigators say the whole ordeal was likely a hoax.

Anna Ayala is accused of attempted grand larceny, a charge authorities said relates to the financial losses Wendy’s has suffered since Ayala claimed she bit down a 1 1/2-inch finger tip in a mouthful of her steamy chili on March 22.

The loss to Wendy’s restaurants in the Bay area is $2.5 million, according to the felony complaint against her.

Police: Wendy's the 'truest victims'“Indeed, what we have found is that thus far our evidence suggests the truest victims in this case are indeed the Wendy’s owner, operators and employees here in San Jose,” San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis said Friday.

The furor caused sales at Wendy’s to drop, forcing layoffs and reduced hours in Northern California. Joseph Desmond, owner of the local Wendy’s franchise, called the situation a nightmare.

“It’s been 31 days, and believe me it’s been really tough,” he said. “My thanks also go out to all the little people who were hurt in our stores. They lost a lot of wages because we had to cut back because our business has been down so badly.”

The company plans to launch a marketing campaign and will offer free frosties this weekend at its restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, Wendy’s spokesman Denny Lynch said.

“If you look at the facts, the police have conducted an investigation and filed charges and made an arrest. We believe that is a clear sign we have been vindicated,” he said.

Woman now in police custodyAyala’s claim that she found the well-manicured finger during her meal at a San Jose Wendy’s initially drew sympathy. She hired a lawyer and filed a claim against the franchise owner, but dropped the lawsuit threat soon after suspicion fell on her.

Ayala, who has a history of bringing claims against big corporations, was arrested at her suburban Las Vegas home Thursday. A court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.

When asked whether police considered Ayala’s claim a hoax, David Keneller, captain of the San Jose police department’s investigations bureau, said yes. Police refused to say where the finger originated and exactly how the hoax was carried out.

But according to a person knowledgeable about the case who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, the charge stemmed from San Jose police interviews with people who said Ayala described putting a finger in the chili.

Loyal customers stand up for chainMany loyal patrons continue to support the Wendy’s where Ayala made her claim.

On Friday, Tom McCready headed into the franchise and ordered two bowls of chili to go and a baked potato with chili on it.

“If they’ve got 10 fingers, it’s OK with me,” the San Jose retiree said about the Wendy’s employees at the counter.

He said he and his wife have supported the restaurant since Ayala’s claim, heading there more often and ordering the chili. His opinion of Ayala’s claim: “It’s a crock.”